Arc lamp



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. J.-WO0D.

(No Model.)

.ARG LAMP.

No. 430,722. 'Patented June 24, 1890.

A Y n l g g 1 11 .l l 1 m IIIIIIIIQIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!llrllllllifllllllllllllllulllllllilmlllll IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlIIIlllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII NVENTOR:

WITNESSESL 6%...

w: mms Krans co., muvo-mnu., wmmuvnu n c (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. J. WOOD.

ARG LAMP..

wfA

d dyn/1252 l QE INVENTRI WITNESSESI y 9W y; f l

` I By his Atlomeys,

Mja@ H m: umm-nuns co., mamma., wsumnmn, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES J. WOOD, OF BROOKLYN, NEV YORK.

ARC LAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 430,722, dated June 4241, 1890.

Application iiled April 7, 1890. Serial No. 346,994.l (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES'J. WOOD, a citizen of the United States, residing in Brooklyn,in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvem ents in Electric-Arc Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to both single and duplex arc lamps, the complete invention being embodied in a duplex lamp.

My present invention comprises improvements most directly applicable to the constructions of lamp shown and described in Patent No. 426,405, granted to me April 22, 1890, although applicable also to other constructions. These improvements relate to what are known as relighting cut-outs, applicable to either single or duplex lamps and to the mechanism for transferring the feed 'from the first to the second carbon-holder in a duplex lamp.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention as applied to a duplex lamp.

Figure 1 is a vertical section in the plane of the axes of the carbon-holders, as denoted by the line 1 1 in Fig. 4. This ligure kcorresponds to Fig. 16 in my said application. Fig. 2 is a vertical section made through the mechanism-case in the plane of the first carbonholder, as denoted by the line 2 in Fig. 4., but showing the regulating mechanism in side elevation. This figure corresponds to Fig. 17 in my said previous application. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a fragment of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1 in another position. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section cut in the plane of the line fl 4 in Fig. 1 and corresponding to Fig. 18 in my said previous application. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front elevation looking in the direction of the arrow 5 in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section on a larger scale in the plane of the axis of the feedingspindle, as denoted by the line 6 6 in Fig. 4. This figure corresponds to Fig. 19 in my said previous application. Figs. 7 and 8 are fragmentary vertical sections in the plane of the line 7 8 in Fig. 6, showing the parts in two different positions and corresponding, respect4 ively, to Figs. 20 and 21 in my said previous application. Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic side view of the parts shown in Figs. 7 and 8, illustrating the relative movements.

Lamps of the same general construction as that which is employed in the lamp to which my present improvements are applied are shown in previous patents granted to me namely, No. y 257,800, dated yMay 9, 1882, for

electric -light regulator, and No. 384,817, dated .Iune 19, 1888, for arclamps, (relighting cut-outs.)

I will first briefly describe in general the construction and operation of this lamp, after which I will describe the improvements con-l stituting my present invention.

The lamp is constructed with a mechanism case or box A and a pendent or looped frame B, extending thence downwardly for supporting, in the usual manner, the lower or negative carbon pencil and the globe-holder. (Not shown.) The upperl or positive carbon is carried by a carbon-holder or kvertical sliding rod O, movable up and down through the mechanism-case, the portion whereof which projects above the latter being housed in a` protecting-tube a. The lamp shown being a duplex lamp, there are two carbon holders or rods O, which are distinguished by being lettered O and C2, respectively, O being the first carbon-holder and C2 the second carbonholder. They are also, consequently, two protccting-tubes a. In the single lamp, where but one carbon-holder is used, it is arranged in the center of the case, as usual.

The carboneholder O (0r each holder C and C2 in a duplex lamp) is formed with rackteeth, which engage With a pinion c, xed on the terminal spindle b of a' feeding gear or train, (designated as a whole by the` letter D,) thistrain being carried by an armature-lever E, which is fulcrumed between pivotal screws e e, Fig. 4, and is pivotally or otherwise conf.l

nected to the armature F of two opposed electro-magnets G and H. The magnet G is wound with coarse wireand connected serially in the main circuit, being commonly called the main magnet, while the magnet H is wound with fine'wire, so as to develop a high resistance, and is connected in a shunt or derivation around the arc, being commonly called the shunt-magnet. Preferably these magnets G and H are of the solenoid type, the armature F, which plays between them, being of H shape, asl heretofore.

` The two magnets act oppositely to each other,

IOC

one striving to move the armature in one direction and the other to pull it in the opposite direction. This is a well-known construction, as shown in my previous patents, above referred to.

The armature-lever E is preferably made in the form of an open frame, as shown best in Fig. 4, having, preferably, two openings, in one of which the horizontal portion or crossbar of the armature F is placed, and in the other of which are pivoted the spindles of the feeding-train D. This train consists of the terminal pinion c (pinions c and c2 being employed in a duplex lamp, as shown) on the spindle b, constituting one end of the train, and a stop-wheelf, constituting the other terminal thereof, with any suitable number of intermediate wheels. Beneath the stop-wheel f is an el astically-inounted stop-tooth g, formed on or carried by a leaf-spring g. 'When the armature-lever E is retained in its normal or mid position, as shown in Fig. 2, the stopwheel f stands so loW down that its teeth encounter the stop g, which prevents its rotation, and the train D consequently remains stationary. Vhen, however, the arc becomes unduly long and its increasing resistance diverts an increased current through the shuntcoil H, the added attraction of the latterdraws down the armature and tilts the armature-lever until the Wheel f is raised sufficiently to clear its teeth from the stop g, whereupon the carbon-holder C runs down by its own Weight until the arc is restored to its normal length. The lever E thereupon returns to its normal position and the train is again stopped by the engagement of the stop with the stop-wheel. To prevent the too rapid descent of the carbon-holder, the train is provided with a retarding device consisting of a vibrating bar h, actuated by an escapement, the wheel h of which is fixed on the same spindle as the stop-wheel f. The lever is so constructed and pivoted that the weight of the armature and carbon-holder is partially counterbalanced by the feeding-train, and to further counterbalance them a spring I is provided, the tension of which is adjustable in order to determine the length of the arc which the lamp shall maintain. To prevent any too sudden or rapid movements, the armature-lever is connected to a dash-pot J, of usual construction. Upon turning on the current the main magnet G is excited and draws up the armature to approximately the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby lifting the carbon-holder, separating the carbons, and forming the arc. As the cai-bons waste away, the increased resistance of the arc diverts an excessive current through the coil H, which draws down the armature until the feeding-train is released, whereupon the carbon-holder descends slowly untii the normal arc is re-established, whereupon the lever E is tilted back to its normal position and the feed is arrested.

I will now describe the relighting cutout. The object of such a cut-out is, in case the lamp becomes extinguished by the arc being blown out by the wind or by either of the carbon pencils breaking off, to temporarily shortcircuit the lamp until the feeding mechanism has brought the carbons together again, and thereupon to restore the normal circuit, so that the lamp shall automatically relight itself. My present invention provides an improved construction of the general form of relighting cut-ont claimed in my patent, No. 384,817, above referred to, and is most directly an improvement on the construction shown in my said pending application. The armature F, although pivotally connected to the armature-lever E, is nevertheless so mounted as to be capable of a movement beyond that of the lever. lVhen the lever has been fully tilted by the attraction of the shunt-magnet, it is stopped by the striking of the toes l against the shunt-coil H. The armature is formed with pivot-pins m m on its opposite ends, connected to the lever E by resting in notches m m', which open downwardly, so that after the lever E is stopped, if the attraction of the magnet still further increases, it may draw the armature down still lower, thereby pulling its pivot-pins m partially out of the notches, as shown in Fig. 3. Normally the armature is held up with its pivot-pins in the notches by the attraction of the main magnet, which may be assisted by a spring' n, which is preferably provided, (although it may be omitted,) and which is not strong enough to sustain the weight of the armature. It is by means of this independent motion of the armature that the cut-out is operated.

The eut-out comprises a shunt-circuit M, including a resistance coil or coils N, which shunt-circuit is normally broken by the separation of two contacts, which contacts are brought together bythe abnormal descent of the 'armature to the position shown in Fig. According to my present invention these cutout contacts consist, respectively, of the pivotpin m on the armature and the terminal iinger L of a metallic strip or plate L2, which is carried by but insulated from the armaturelever. This metal strip L2 is fastened, preferably, by two screws to the front of the a1'- mature-lever, as shown in Fig. 5, and is bent at both ends around the sides of the armature-lever to a position adjacent to the pivots, being there twisted and having its ends L concaved or trough-shaped, and arranged close beneath but normally out of contact with the pivot-pins m m. The pins m m are electrically connected through the armature, the spring n, (or any other connection,) and the armature-lever with the casing of the lamp, and hence with the positive bindingpost, while the contacts L are connected through their strip L2 and a wire n2, (see Fig.

IOO

IIO

IZO

shunt M. If the arc is blown out or otherwise extinguished, the current through the shunt-coils H will be, greatly augmented, thereby abnormally exciting the shunt-magnet and drawing down the armature F andr i the shunt becomes closed and the entire cur rent is short-circuited from the carbons and main magnet, (which are in series, as usual,) and divides between the shunt-magnet and the cut-out shunt M. The interruption of the y circuit and extinguishment of other lamps are thus prevented. As soon as the regulating mechanism has brought the carbons together again, the circuit through the carbons and main magnet is re-established, and since this circuit isof low resistance a considerable portion of the current will iiow through the main magnet, thereby energizing it and causing it to lift the armature, whereby the contacts m L are separated and the lever E is tilted upwardly, thereby lifting the carbonholder and drawing out the arc again, whereupon the lamp resumes its normal operation.

In my previous constructions the cut-out 4contacts have consisted of -two strips, one carried by the armature-lever and the other by the armature, and standing the one above the other in front of the armature-lever, the contact carried by the armature being inclined, in order to be rubbed by the other contact when they come together, and thereby kept bright.

Diiculty has been experienced by reason of the movement of the lever-contact in the arc of a circle, while the armature-contact moves vertically in a straight line. It is important to form their contacting surfaces at such angles that they will remain at equal distances apart whatever be the position of the armature-lever during the normal operation of the lamp, and it is .found that to accomplish this it is necessary to bend the armaturecontact to such an angle that if vthe arc is blown out at a time when the lever is drawn to its uppermost position by the attraction of the main magnet, and the armature is suddenly attracted downwardly by the shunt-magnet, so i thatit descends faster than the lever,`it is liable y to bring the contacts together in such manner that they will wedge or bind and prevent the r complete descent of the armature and lever,

thereby locking the armature and lever fast in such position that the feed cannot oper` ate, so that the lamp is unable to relight.

The contacts as I now form themwhat be the position of the armature-lever, whether the armaturel be elevated or depressed at the instant that the contacts are brought together. vThe concave upper surface of the contacting ends L is preferably slightly larger than the pin m, so that the latter may have some degree of free lateral movement thereagainst. The respective contacting surfaces are kept bright by rubbing against each other during the tilting movement of the armature-lever whenever the cutout comes into action. By preference I provide the cut-out contacts m L on both sides of the armature-lever, as shown, as thereby one or the other is certain to operate, since any lateral or tilting movement of the armature cannot defeat their operation. Ordinari-ly, however, to provide these contacts on one side only would suffice.

That portion of my invention which applies solely to duplex lamps will now be described.

The mechanism of the duplex lamp is the same as that of the single lamp with only the addition of certain parts designed to-hold the second carbon-holder C2 out of action during the feeding of the first carbon-holder C and upon the consumption of the first carbons to throw the second carbons into feed. rack-teeth ofthe carbon-holders engage .pin-

ions c and c2, respectively, which are carried ture-lever frame E, the side bars of which frame are drooped at-E2 to make room for the spindle. The second carbon-holder is suspended out of action while the first carbon-holder is feeding by means of a ratchetwheel fastened to the second feeding, pinion-c2, as shown in Fig. G, engaged by a pawl pivoted to the armature-lever E and pressed by a spring ys, as shown in Fig. 7. As the first carbon-holder feeds, the spindle b turns freely within the pinion c2 and ratchet-wheel x. When the first carbons are consumed and the holder C reaches its lowest position, the pawl as is disengaged, as shown in Fig. 8. The releasing device for eifecting this consists of a rock-shaft y, mounted in bearings on the lever E and having two projecting arms or cranks y and y2. The arm y stands normally over the tail of the pawl The- IOO

IIO

', as shown in Fig. 7, while the arm 'y2 exy Thereupon the second carbon-holder C2 commences to feed downwardly, and when its carbon touches the negative carbon beneath the arc is transferred from the first to the second pair. During the feeding of the second carbon-holder the first carbon -holder remains suspended from the lever E by its pin b resting on the wheel In the construction shown in my said patent, No. 426,405, the pin b is fiat on its lower side and strikes directly against the arm Q/which is unprovidcd with any wheel if. It was found that the equipoise of the armature-lever was somewhat deranged after the transfer of the feed to the second carbons, thereby preventing the drawing of as long an arc during the consumption of the second pair of cai-bons, so that they gave slightly less light than the first pair. It being understood that the weight of both carbon-holders is at all times borne by the armature lever, it is evident that during the feeding of the first pair, and while both pairs of carbon-holders are supported through the medium of their pinions c c2, their weight hangs on the armature-lever at the same distance from its fulcru 1n as the pitch-line of the racks; but when the pin b is stopped by the arm y2 the weight of the carbon-holder C is borne by this arm and pin, and as the arm is carried by the lever E the effectis equivalent to the suspension of the carbon-holder at adistance from the fulcrum equal to that of a vertical line intersecting the point of contact of the pin band arm y2, or,in other words, the carbonholder hangs froln the lever at a point farther from the fulcrum thereof than the pitch-line of its rack, so that its weight acts on the armature-lever at greater advantage of leverage. The increase in the mechanical advantage of its weight was thus equivalent to making it about twenty-five to thirty per cent. heavier, so that this amount of additional resistance was afforded to the lifting action of the main magnet-coil G. To overcome these difficulties, I have introduced by my present invention a construction which imparts with an equal vibration of the armature-lever an equal degree of lift to the carbon-holder C both before and after the transfer of the feed fromv the first to the second carbon-holder, so that the first carbon-,holder is suspended with the same mechanical advantage both before and after the transfer of the feed. To this end I form the pin b with its under side inclined to constitute a cam-face, and to avoid friction I provide the arm y2 with the friction-wheel ij-5, which, as the lever E rocks, rolls against this cam-face in the manner shown in the diagrammatic view, Fig. 9, wherein the parts are shown in full lines in the normal position of the lever when not feeding and in dotted lines when the lever is tilted to throw the feed into action. The inclined under surface of the pin b is inclined to such extent that the lifting eect resulting from the tiltingiof the lever is reduced in such proportion that the carbonholder is lifted to precisely the same extent as though it were still suspended from the feeding-pinion c. The precise degree of inclination of this cam-face will depend upon the height of the wheel rf, since the higher this wheel was mounted over the lever E the more nearly would this cam-face approach the horizontal. This improved construction allows the lamp to burn under like conditions during the consumption of both the first and second pairs of carbons.

The features of construction shown in the drawings and which are notherein described have no necessary connection with my present invention, being either old and well known or else claimed in my said previous application. Those who are desirous of informing themselves as to the details of construction of such features will find them fully described inA my said previous application, wherein they are designated by the same letters of reference which are applied to them in the accompanying drawings.

I claim as my invention the following-defined novel features or improvements, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, namely:

l. In an arc lamp, the combination of opposed main and shunt magnets, an armature and armature-lever connected through a loose connection adapted to permit of the armature moving independently of the lever when abnormally attracted by the shunt-magnet, and cut-out contacts carried by the armature and lever, respectively, to be brought into contact upon such abnormal attraction, and said contacts arranged in line with the connection between the armature and lever, whereby their action is free from disturbance due to the different paths of motion of the lever and armature.

2. In an arc lamp, the combination of opposed main and shunt magnets, an armature and armature-lever connected through a loose pivotal connection adapted to permit of the armature moving independently of the lever when abnormally attracted by the shuntmagnet, and cut-out contacts carried by the armature and lever, respectively, tobe brought into contact upon such. abnormal attraction, and said contacts arranged closely adjacent to the axis of the pivotal connection between the armature and lever.

3. In an arc lamp, the combination of opposed main and shunt magnets, an armature and armature-lever connected through a loose pivotal connection adapted to permit of the armature moving independently of the lever when abnormally att acted by the shuntmagnet, and cut-out contacts carried by the armature and lever, respectively,to be brought into contact upon such abnormal attraction, and said contacts consisting, respectively, of a pivot-pin on one of the parts and acontactarm carried by but insulated from the other part and arranged closely adjacent to said pivotpin.

4. In an arc lamp, the combination of opposed main and shunt magnets, an armature IOO ITO

and armature-lever connected through a loose pivotal connection adapted to permit of the armature moving independently of the lever when abnormally attracted by the shunt-magnet, consisting of open notches in the armature-lever engaged by pivot-pins on the armature, and cut-out contacts carried by the armature and lever, respectively, to be brought into contact upon an abnormal eX- citation of the shunt-magnet, and consisting, respectively, of a pivot-pin on the armature and a contact-arm fastened to but insulated from the lever and terminating adjacent to said pin on the open side of the notch in the lever. v

5. In an arc lamp, the combination of main and shunt magnets, an armature F, having pivot-pins m, an armature-lever E, having pivotal notches fm', and a contact-strip L2, fastened to but insulated from the lever and formed with a contact-arm L', arranged adjacent to a pin m, to be touched thereby when the armature is abnormally attracted by the shunt-magnet.

6. In an arc lamp, the combination of main and shunt magnets, an armature and armature-lever connected by a loose connection adapted to 'permit the armature to move independently of the lever when abnormally attracted by the shunt-magnet, and cut-out contacts carried by the armature and lever, respectively, to be brought into contact upon such abnormal attraction and arranged in two pairs upon opposite sides of -the lever, whereby normally a double contact is assured, or in case of the lateral tilting of the armature one pair of contacts at least is caused to act.

7. In a duplex arc lamp, the combination, with the carbon-holders having rack-teeth, of

feeding-pinions engaging them, an armaturelever carrying said pinions, whereby both carbon-holders are suspended from the lever during the operation of the lamp, a feedingtrain, means for preventing the feeding of the second carbon-holderduring the feeding of the first, and means for upholding the first carbon-holder by the lever during the feeding of the second, consisting ofthe provision of the first carbon-holder and lever with a cam-surface on the one part and a roller on the other relativelyarranged to impart to the carbon-holder the same extent of lift with a given movement of the lever as though the carbon-holder were hung by its rack-teeth from its feeding-pinion, whereby the effect of the weight of the carbon-holder upon the lever is substantially the same after as before the transfer of the feed, and the second carbons may burn with the same arc as the first.

8. ln a duplex arc lamp, the combination of the carbon-holders C C2, pinions c c2, lever E, carrying said pinions, pawl x, for preventing the feeding of the second holder during the feeding of the first, releasing rockshaft y, having arms y and 1/2, roller @/5 on the latter arm, and pin b on the lirst carbonholder, having an inclined cam-face which, during the burning of the second carbons, rests on said roller and is so proportioned as to reduce the extent of lift of the first Acarbonholder in order to equalize the ares of the first and second carbons.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. o

JAMES J. VOOD. Vitnesses:

J No. E. GAvIN, FRED WHITE. 

